This Full House Archive

Tag: New Jersey Mommy Bloggers

  • After the Storm

    Blue Skies
    We heard it was coming, a few days after experiencing our first earthquake and it was supposedly one of the biggest storms to hit the New Jersey coast in recent memory.

    We prepared, each in our own way and as much as we could, considering our house loses power whenever the town burps or hiccups, stocking up on can goods, batteries, candles, lots of ice and Ibuprofen (okay, that last one was for me) thinking that we would be without electric for a day or two.

    Five (5) days later, my middle girl called me at the laundromat to say that the lights came on and I cried.

    We fared better than most.

    A week after the storm, it was announced that the federal government has approved New Jersey’s disaster assistance request for state residents in ALL 21 counties impacted by Hurricane Irene.

    Just a few miles away, there are people we know who are still without power and/or draining a swimming pool in their basement.

    As we wait our turn to estimate the cost of the damage caused by Irene (at last count, our living room ceiling sprung about a dozen leaks and the wallpaper by our front door burst open to expose a magical water fountain underneath) there is nothing that could not be repaired, or cannot be dealt with, over time.

    Not when there were lives lost.

    Although, I feel it safe to admit that…YES!…the last week or so has been very stressful.

    Except, the part where we spent two gorgeous days and nights with my parents (see pic above!) or, hosting an impromptu virtual sleepover with online friends (thanks, you and Gabs do good face, Jenn!)

    Oh, and ALL four of the kids are actually looking forward to starting school tomorrow (FTW!)

    I, on the other hand, am very, very thankful to be able to sit here, in this house (filled to capacity with unmatched socks and mildewy as it may be) I get it.

    People have experienced worse…of course, they always do…but, we WERE lucky and I am just happy to have the chance to write…again…after the storm.

    Howeverrrrrrr, the next person who insists that…pssshhhh…Hurricane Irene was NUH-THING!…gets a Wet Willy (look it up!)

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • Mom Blogging Pain Scale

    Mom Blogger Pain Scale

    My mom and I were talking and both happened to glance outside her kitchen window and watched, as my 9 year-old tried to get her 15 year-old sister, who was reading a book at the time, to play with her.

    Judging by her stomping off and kicking her brother's scooter, it was pretty clear to the both of us that her attempts were, you know, unsuccessful.

    "I think she caught us looking."

    Because, the kid quickly turned and thought better about leaving the scooter in the middle of the cul-de-sac.

    "She's going to kill me, that one is."

    Okay, I know, yes I was being overly dramatic (sort of) but, after 17 years of raising kids (and killer dust bunnies) I'm pretty tired at this point in the game.

    Does it show?

    I fully expect that they (i.e. non-parental units living in my house) will figure this out, soon enough, especially once I finally get those iron bars mounted to their bedroom window(s).

    "It's never easy, no matter how old your kids get."

    My mother was right, of course (just like with most other things, as I've learned over the years) I swear, she's got this sixth sense about her. 

    It's like the woman knows what I'm thinking, or, at least, what she thinks I need to hear.

    "Nope, you never stop being a parent."

    How DOES she DO that?

    Then, it hit me (as the most obvious things tend to do) like a smack to the forehead.

    "Moooooooom, can you PLEASE do something about her?"

    It's called validation and pretty much the reason why I started contributing to the blogging community, almost 8 years ago, in the first place.

    "What would you suggest…hanging…crucifixion?"

    My 15-year-old suggested that a burning at the stake to be more than sufficient.

    Scooter

    Contrary to the latest blogging statistics and demographics, I chose to go outside and scooter, instead!

    "Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"

    Un-motorized, even.

    [sound of crickets]

    Silly mom bloggers.

    Edited to Add:  I drew the Mom Blogging Pain Scale (not bad, eh?) but, the photo was taken by my 15 year-old and she doesn't know that I used it (yet) but, she will be okay with it, once she sees that I gave her full credit.

    [heavy sigh]

    Blogging used to be a lot easier, you know?

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House